Syrian Refugee Crisis

12 - 18 OKTOBER 2015

No doubt you've heard some about the massive Syrian refugee (Flüchtlinger) migration that is happening over here. Germany is one of the few countries that has opened its doors to these people fleeing the Syrian crisis. While Obama and the UN are trying to find safe havens within Syria for such people so they don't have to flee to other countries, Europe and Jordan and Lebanon are being flooded with these folks.

The Europe Area office for the Church is in the thick of things. A rep from SLC is here for 2 months assessing and helping to organize a plan for the Church to help in a humanitarian effort. Funds have been made available from the Church to support wards and branches and stakes to help in this effort. 

Two migrations are happening. One is peoples from north Africa who are coming across the Mediterranean Sea into Italy. They are not being accepted as refugees and the effort there is to return them to their countries of origin. The Syrian refugees are coming through croatia and Hungary into Austria and then being brought mostly by train (some on foot) to Germany. Germany originally authorized 700,000 refugees to be accepted, but it has grown to well over 1 million. Germany has set three cities as reception centers: Munich, Frankfurt, and Berlin. From these three cities the refugees are apportioned out to smaller cities and towns about the country. These towns then help them find housing, work, and get established with children in school and the German language taught. They remain in a refugee status even when they get work permits. They remain in that status for anywhere from 2-5 years and then will be reviewed at that time.

Of course, Frankfurt is where we are and we are having opportunities to help. Large amounts of clothing have been gathered into warehouses and need people to help sort clothing and such things. We are also looking for ways for wards and stakes to do humanitarian projects to help. Many stakes are doing huge numbers of hygiene kits. I don't know why church groups always seem to do hygiene kits. That seems to be our forte. Perhaps it is because we are so focused on be "clean!" Much more is needed. Offenbach (where we attend church) has become in the last several years a magnet for people of the Muslim faith. You see large numbers of people who are clearly of that ethnic origin. It has changed the complexion of Offenbach. Many of the Germans have chosen to leave there and move to other places. But generally, the Germans have been gracious and compassionate in receiving these people. The underlying hope is that by establishing large communities of Muslims within the country that they don't become pockets for radicalism to fester and develop. Its religious dogma seems to be susceptible to radicalism, intolerance, and violence.

It is an historic time for us to be in Germany and see these things unfolding. The world is certainly in commotion. One cannot say that the prophecies of these last days are not coming to pass and are spot on with what is actually happening in human and nature elements of history. What a remarkable time in which to live. I've frequently thought of Lehi and Nephi (grandsons of Helaman) who lives at the time of Christ's resurrection and appearance to the Nephite remnants, and what a remarkable period of time it was for them to live. We are similar in preparing for Christ's second coming. The cleansing that must occur on the earth prior to his coming is happening while the gospel is being spread with ever-increasing rapidity through technology. It is literally going into all the four corners of the earth. How challenging and yet how blessed it is to live now. 

We have strong testimonies of following the living prophets. I was reading yesterday Section 1 of Doctrine and Covenants - the Lord's preface and warning to the people of today. These are powerful words of warning. Those who will not hear the Lord or his servants or the prophets and apostles will be cut off. They seek not the Lord, but walk in their own way and after the image of their own gods. We see this happening even among those within the Church who think they know better and insist on doing it their way. We pray for our children and grandchildren that they will not be so inclined, but will have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to believe. Whatever you must do in your life to bring yourself into the path of true discipleship with the Lord and his servants, DO IT. Do not procrastinate. We love you all and pray for you.